Karnataka government has taken the decision of handing over the 1,676 primary health centres (PHCs) and the taluk level hospitals to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for management.

Dr. AB Malakaraddy, minister for health and family welfare, Karnataka told pharmabiz.com that the State Cabinet had taken the decision in this regard and many NGOs have come forward to take up the responsibility of maintaining the PHCs. Besides, medicines, he said the government would meet the entire salary expenditure if the NGOs continued with the government employees already in service, but would meet 75 percent of the salary otherwise.

The State government has also prepared an action plan estimated to cost Rs. 850 crore for reorganising the PHCs in the State. The proposal ahs also been sent to the World Bank. While the district health centres will procure 60 percent of the medicines, the remaining 40 percent would be done by the government.

The health minister said that this year there were no outbreaks of cholera and the State government had made necessary arrangements to ensure availability of IV fluids at the PHCs this summer.

Recently, there have been surprise visits by the members of the Lokayukta (an organisation of inspectors) in Karnataka to the hospitals and it was discovered that many of the medical centres did not stock the emergency drugs. Dr. Malakaraddy said that it was possible that many of the medicines could be unavailable as they were procured through tenders. He also felt that it would be difficult to run hospitals if stern action was taken against doctors who may quit.

While maintaining that the quality of medical care in the government run hospitals in Karnataka was far better than compared to the health services in other states. He however, admitted that still he was not satisfied with the situation.

He also pointed out that there were only six specialists in the Gulbarga as against eleven specialists required. Similarly, there were only six specialists as against 26 required in Karwar district.

The government is awaiting a study report on the functioning of PHCs and implementation of family planning schemes through PHCs in the State. The government has already dismissed 453 doctors from service for remaining absent from duty, he said.